Afternoon all,
 
I had more of a chance to peruse the new Crossley ID Guide this morning, after looking through most of the beautiful photos. I spent a bit more time reading the text, and though Crossley says flat out that "I DON'T LIKE TEXT",  what he did write is rather interesting. Much of it reminds me of my very first Peterson Field Guide to the Birds, a Pre-1970's edition, for all of its anecdotal information.

 A few examples (so as not to spoil it for those who haven't gotten their hands on this new book yet):, in no particular order:

  "A singer with a big voice that has driven my wife mad (and I'm sure many other people) as it endlessly goes on at any time of night or day"  is part of the write up for Northern Mockingbird.

  "Simply beautiful; the epitome of grace (it would have been at home in the movie 'Avatar')"  --- Swallow-tailed Kite
 
  "Cruel beauty" --- Northern Goshawk (a particularly beautiful plate, with a rainbow!).

  "Pocket-sized and cuddly, you would love to take it home" ---N. Saw-whet Owl

  "Tiny round ball of feathers with a cocked stub for a tail---nothing else like it!" --- Winter Wren

  "Bouncy flight takes it nowhere quickly" ---Red-breasted Nuthatch

  "Mindblowing bill" ---Atlantic Puffin

  "Sometimes looks back and raises its crest as if to show it is worth following" ---Lincoln's Sparrow

You just don't find writing like this in field guides anymore. Not only is it humorous, but much of it is actually helpful in a subtle sort of way, teaching behavioral clues and emphasizing things to look at in the field, something Peterson did in his early guides (though his later ones became rather stiffly written, emphasizing his plates rather than his writing). 

I gave it an initial 4.5 out of 5 but am edging ever higher, the more I look at it.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD






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